Metallic tie.



J.. F. TOWNSEND.

' METALLIO TIE. APPLIATION FILED SEPT.19,1913.

. Patented 8ept. 8, 1914..

srarns PATE FTCE.

METALLIC TIE.

Specifiction of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

Application filed September 19, 1913. Serie1lo. 790,748.

T 0 all whom 2't may concern Be it known that l, JAY FRED Townsnno, a citizen of the United States, residng at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and tate of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Metallic Ties, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metallic railroad tics, and the object of the invention is to provide a tie suhstantially in the form of a T in cross-section with the under face of the head of the tie inclined and with the ends of the tie also downwardly-inclined or beveled, so that when the tie is forced downwardly the tendency is to compact the ballast under the tie and force it inwardly against th web or depending leg thereof. The compacting of the ballast serves to press it inwardly against the depending web and the under face of the head of the tie where its function of supporting the tie is employed to the greatest advantage. By the peculiar formation of this tie the head of the rail carres the load by secure engagement wit-h the ballast and the depending leg or web serves to prevent longitudinal movement of the tie and the downwardly bent or beveled ends thereof serve to prevent lateral shifting of the tie under service condi tions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts constituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the matter hereinafter claimed.

In the drawings in which similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the different figures, Figure 1, is a plan view of a tie embodying this invention; Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, is a view in side elevation enlarged of the left end of the tie shown in Fig. 2; and, Fig. 4, is a transverse sectional view of the tie shown in Fig. 3 on line X thereof.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, it may be stated that the tie is formed of a head l and a depending web Or leg 2; the upper face of the head 1 is preferably, although not necessarily, formed with two beveled faces 3 and 4 inclined away from each other and is provided with two seats 5 and 6 for the flanges of the rails and preferably these portions of the upper faces of the head of the tie are in a horizontal nlane. The median portion of the tie is provided with a contracted portion at 7 so that the ballast collected around the narrow or contracted portion of the tie tends to prevent lons;itudinal shifting thereof in use. The under faces 8 and 9 of the head of the tie are preferably inclined downwardlv and outwardly away from each other. The ends of the tie are provided with transverselyextending and end-rorming members or lips 10 for a purpose to be described. The head of the tie at the ends is preferably downwardly beveled or inclined at 11, for a purpose to be described. Extending centrally and longitudinally of the head is the depending leg or web 2 preferably wedgeshaped in cross section and extendmg from end to end of the tie.

The members 5 and 6 being approximately flat will serve to sustain the rails. The median contracted portion of the tie is, as already described, used for preventing longitudinal movement of the tie in use. The downwardly-bent or beveled ends 11 of the tie serve when the tie is forced downwardly to compact and move'upwardly the ballast under and into snug engagement with the under faces of the tie and thereby help to hold the ballast and cause it to more securely support the head of the tie. This latter function is also aided by the down wardly-extending end-forming members 10 which tend to hold the ballast from escaping outwardly from under the head of the tie. The inclining of the under faces 8 and 9 of the head of the tie also tends to force the ballast transversely toward the central web or leg 2. The entire conformation of the tie is such that when used it will tend to pocket the ballast around the central longitudinal line of the tie as contradistinguished from the ordinary tie, where the downward pressure thereon tends to force the ballast away from under the tie and cause the tie to sink or become depressed in use. In placing the ordinary tie in position a trench is required, and thereafter the ballast has to be forced under the tie by the laborious use of pick and tamping tools, whereas, in placing this tie, after the ballast has been la1d on the road, the workman simply draws a line across and places the tie therein and the first light workengine that passes over the 1'a1 forces the tie into its seat, and as before stated, the effect of the construction thereoi is to eonstantly force the bailast up under the head and into eugagement with the under face thereof, thus holding the ba11ast from displaeement and permittng the trimming and trung of the side edges of the road bed, while at the same time, the tie Will be prevented from any lateral or longitudinal movement.

I claim:-

A raihoad tie comprising a head, portions of the upper face the1eof being ine1ined, and 15 with the ends of said tie downwardiy-in c1ined, depending lips provided at the ends of said inc1ined portions and a longitudinally-extending web depending from said head.

In testimony where0f I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subseribing witnesses.

JAY FRED TONSEND.

VVitnesses GEO. I. MILLER, JOHN H. MARS0HING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained *0'1 five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 2D. G." 

